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C. G. PERKINS.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

No. 287,320. Patented Oct. 23, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. PERKINS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE IMPERIAL ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,320, dated October 23, 1883.

Application filed April 26, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES G. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Electric Gut-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an automatic electric cut-out placed in the main circuit,between the electric lamps and the generator, of which a full description will be given hereinafter.

My invention consists of a strip of sheet metal or wire, usually employed in electric cut-outs,bent in a staple shape, and having an eye on each end, for the purpose of mounting the same on the central projection of a roller made of insulating material.

My invention also consists of a metallic 2o plug having a stud integral therewith, the stud being provided with a pin, a portion of which projects beyond its diameter. The plug is mounted with aretracting-spring encircling the stud. The end of said plug opposite the 2 5 stud is provided with an opening, the whole arranged within a recess made in one of the binding-posts placed within the boX.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the box with its lid raised, showing a plan and 0 part elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 represents a development of the strip of sheet metal. Fig. 3 represents the roller detached. In the drawings, A represents the box, and A its lid. B B represent the binding-posts arranged within the said box. 0 is the roller,

provided with central projections, D D, one of which enters a corresponding opening in the bindingpost B, while the other enters opening 0 in the metallic plug E, provided with a stud, E, and spring G, the whole arranged within the recess H of the binding-post B. The end of the stud E is provided with a catch-pin, I, which prevents the plug from being forced out of the recess H by the spring 5 G whenever the roller 0 is removed. K is the metallic strip, hung upon the roller 0 by the eyes L L. a b are the main electric conductors, held in position by the binding-screws c d, operated upon through the holes e f. The entire structure is fastened to the side walls or ceiling of a building.

Mode of operation: The cut-out strip K is made to have a certain resistance to the electrical current, so that if more current should attempt to pass through the strip than the lamp could accommodate the strip will melt, thus breaking the circuit and preventing any damage to the lamps. It will be understood that the two binding-posts are electrically connected by the metallic strip or wire K. Conse- 6o quently the current enters the positive post B, thence through the strip K to the negative post B, from which it passes to the wire I), thence to the lamps.

XVhenever it becomes necessary to replace a new cut-out by reason of a former one having been destroyed, the roller 0 is pressed against the face of the plug E, which gives way by the contraction of the spring G. the operation of which allows the central projection, D, to pass from the opening of the binding-post B. The roller is then raised and drawn from the opening of the plug E, which then assumes its normal position. The remaining portion of the fractured cutout strip is removed from the 7 5 roller 0 and a new one put in its place, and again placed in position within the box.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with an automatic electric out out, the metallic plug E, stud E, catch-pin I, spring G, recess H, opening 0, and binding-post B, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with an automatic electric cutout, the roller 0, central projections, D D, and metallic strip or wire K, with eyes L L on the ends thereof, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, substantially as shown and described, of box A, binding-posts B B, metallic plug E, opening 0, stud E, catch-pin I, spring G, roller G, projections D D, and metallic strip K, the whole forming an automatic 5 electric cutout, substantially as shown and described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 23d day of April, A. D. 1883.

CHARLES G. PERKINS.

\Vitnesses:

J. A. HUEDLE, GEORGE BEoKEn. 

